"Deputy Director Jiang, I think this is nothing. In any place, in any position, if you want to do something, you're bound to offend some people, and you're bound to be on the opposite side of some people. As long as what we're persisting in is meaningful, then we can continue."
Qin Mu pondered for a moment, then said solemnly.
Oh?
Such high level of awareness?
Jiang Songshan looked at Qin Mu; the other man's eyes didn't seem to be joking. He immediately said, "Then what do you think is the meaning of your persistence?"
The meaning of persisting?
Qin Mu thought carefully and said, "I think the meaning of my persistence is to help hundreds of thousands of people in Huaining escape poverty as soon as possible and live a better life..."
Still so high-profile...a bit hollow.
Hearing this first sentence, Jiang Songshan didn't think there was anything praiseworthy about it. He didn't believe that Qin Mu, at such a young age, possessed such a selfless heart.
After all, Qin Mu was still a human being, certainly not a saint!
"Of course, that sounds like bragging, too unrealistic."
Qin Mu smiled slightly, then changed the subject, saying, "It's a lie for an official to say they don't want a promotion. I also want a promotion, to govern a region, to sit in the top position, and direct the affairs of state."
"I also want to manage the entire Huaining as the top leader, to make sweeping changes in the economy, people's livelihood, and culture, to realize my ambitions!"
"But to achieve all this, I must first do my job well. If I can't even do a good job as a county magistrate, if I can't handle the pressure, how can I possibly achieve higher ambitions!"
"So right now, my job is to persevere and do what I believe is right!"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Songshan's eyes lit up.
He dared to speak the truth!
He dared to speak his mind!
This Qin Mu is quite something!
He didn't hide his inner thoughts from him at all, even saying he wanted a promotion.
This just goes to show that this person is quite genuine.
In officialdom, genuine people are few and far between.
"Deputy Director Jiang, we've arrived."
At this moment, the car stopped. Qin Mu said this, then got out first and led Jiang Songshan and his group forward.
"What mountain is this?"
Jiang Songshan glanced at the mountain peak. Although it didn't look very high, the mountain path wasn't easy to traverse.
"This is Dawang Mountain in Wanghe Town!"
Qin Mu explained, "The first specialty agricultural project I undertook since becoming county head was a collaboration with Tianke Group to develop the Jianlan tea brand. Dawang Mountain is the origin of Jianlan tea. This tea brand is relatively niche; most people may not have heard of it, but it has a certain reputation in Huaining."
"Tianke Group wanted to expand in the tea industry, so they chose the Jianlan brand. Our county government acted as the matchmaker, and Wanghe Town was specifically responsible. Thanks to this project, the villagers of Dawang Village can earn an extra income right at their doorstep!"
He spoke as he walked up the mountain.
Jiang Songshan listened to Qin Mu's words without much feeling; it was all official rhetoric. Having worked in the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs for many years, he had heard too much of Qin Mu's rhetoric and was already immune to it.
But when he reached the halfway point of the mountain and saw the tea trees planted with them, and many villagers working among them, he felt a little moved.
"Shall we go take a look?"
Jiang Songshan immediately offered, walking towards the crowd without waiting for Qin Mu's reply.
Qin Mu followed without hesitation. He knew that with a pragmatic leader like Jiang Songshan, no matter how eloquent or persuasive his words, it was meaningless. Only by seeing, asking, and understanding for himself would the leader choose to believe him.
A provincial leader like this certainly wouldn't be fooled by sweet talk.
"Hello, brother!"
Jiang Songshan stepped forward and greeted an elderly man diligently weeding.
The old man instinctively looked up. Seeing Jiang Songshan didn't bother him, but seeing the group of people behind Jiang Songshan, he was immediately startled and hurriedly said, "Are you a leader? I...I...I don't know anything!"
Ordinary farmers had never seen such a large group before. Their instinctive reaction was to avoid it, to be nervous.
After all, saying the wrong thing to a leader could be disastrous.
Little did Jiang Songshan know, the old man's reaction pleased him greatly, because it indicated that Qin Mu hadn't given prior notice.
He had visited many grassroots levels and inspected numerous projects. In most places, actors were pre-arranged, or instructions were given beforehand on how to deal with superiors.
But this man's nervousness upon seeing him was clearly genuine, not an act.
It was so real!
The more real, the better!
"Brother, don't be nervous. We're not leaders, we're business people. We're also interested in this tea project. Is it actually profitable?"
Jiang Songshan smiled, easily adopting a casual identity, and asked as if engaging in friendly conversation.
"Ah...you're in business too!"
The old man breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. "Whether we make money or not, we don't really know. I'm just a farmer, I've lived in this village my whole life. This tea business was negotiated between a good leader in the county and a big company. We don't know the specifics, but I know that by weeding and watering the plants near my home, I can earn forty yuan a day!"
Forty yuan a day?
Jiang Songshan frowned slightly upon hearing this and asked, "Forty yuan a day, isn't that a lot?"
"This isn't a lot? You big bosses certainly don't think it's a lot."
The old man said with emotion, "When we farm, if the harvest is bad, we work hard all year and don't have much money left. Now, earning forty yuan a day is almost enough for my living expenses for a month."
Forty yuan a month's living expenses?
"Our village isn't like the city. Having an opportunity to make money is already very good; it gives us hope for the future."
The old man said with a broad smile.
It was obvious the other party was very satisfied with the salary and the job opportunity.
Jiang Songshan asked a few more questions before turning back to continue walking up the mountain.
"Vice Director Jiang, there are some things you might not be familiar with in rural areas. This wage of forty yuan… may not seem high, but in the village…"
"What, County Chief Qin, do you think I, the Vice Director in charge of agriculture and rural affairs, know nothing?"
Qin Mu, seeing Jiang Songshan's serious expression, thought he was displeased and quickly tried to explain, but Jiang Songshan interrupted him before he could finish.
"What that man said is correct. Forty yuan a day is already a high wage in the countryside, and the work isn't too strenuous. That's a good amount."
Jiang Songshan said calmly, "I'm just a little saddened. Our country has developed to this point, and the economy has taken off, but the people at the bottom of society still live such a hard life. As the Vice Director of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Department, I have a responsibility!"
"I feel ashamed!"